Released January 2012, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
January 1 Cattle Inventory Down 2 Percent
All cattle and calves in the United States as of January 1, 2012 totaled 90.8
million head, 2 percent below the 92.7 million on January 1, 2011. This is
the lowest January 1 inventory of all cattle and calves since the 88.1
million on hand in 1952.
All cows and heifers that have calved, at 39.1 million, were down 2 percent
from the 40.0 million on January 1, 2011.
• Beef cows, at 29.9 million, were down 3 percent from January 1, 2011.
• Milk cows, at 9.2 million, were up 1 percent from January 1, 2011.
Other class estimates on January 1, 2012 and the change from January 1, 2011,
are as follows:
• All heifers 500 pounds and over, 19.4 million, down 1 percent.
• Beef replacement heifers, 5.2 million, up 1 percent.
• Milk replacement heifers, 4.5 million, down 1 percent.
• Other heifers, 9.6 million, down 2 percent.
• Steers weighing 500 pounds and over, 16.1 million, down 2 percent.
• Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over, 2.1 million, down 5 percent.
• Calves under 500 pounds, 14.1 million, down 3 percent.
• Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter in all feedlots, 14.1 million, up
1 percent.
• The combined total of calves under 500 pounds, and other heifers and
steers over 500 pounds outside of feedlots was 25.7 million, down 4
percent.
Calf Crop Down 1 Percent
The 2011 calf crop was estimated at 35.3 million head, down 1 percent from
2010. This is the smallest calf crop since the 34.9 million born during 1950.
Calves born during the first half of 2011 are estimated at 25.7 million, down
1 percent from 2010.
Revisions
All inventory and calf crop estimates for July 1, 2010, January 1, 2011, and
July 1, 2011 were reviewed using calf crop, official slaughter, import and
export data, and the relationship of new survey information to the prior
surveys. Based on the findings of this review, small adjustments of less than
one-half percent were made to previously released inventory estimates by
class and calf crop.
State level estimates were reviewed and changes were made to reallocate
inventory and calf crop estimates to the United States total.
This report was approved on January 27, 2012.
To view full report click here